As one of our board certified vascular surgeons, Dr. Nicolas Zea performs a variety of complex procedures, and his dedication to patient care and service is exceptional. 

What you might not know about him is that he is also an avid adventurer, running ultra marathons and traveling far and wide to embark on trail run excursions and mountain climbing expeditions.

His dedication to building the stamina and strength for these expeditions mirrors the perseverance he relies on in the operating room, where performing vascular surgery demands methodical preparation, hours of focus, and meticulous attention to detail.

Here’s more on Dr. Zea’s adventurer spirit and how it ultimately makes him a better surgeon.

Dr. Zea’s Excursions

Dr. Zea’s passion for running was sparked by his father-in-law, a dedicated runner and physician, who inspired him to take up the sport. 

“He taught me that it was a great way of de-stressing and relieving all the extra energy and troubles in your day-to-day life,” Dr. Zea explains.

That passion for endurance has carried him to incredible heights. He has scaled Pikes Peak in Colorado and climbed mountains across Ecuador and Peru. He has also tackled Sky Island, a grueling 50K race through the Davis Mountains of West Texas.

Most recently, Dr. Zea fulfilled a lifelong dream by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa. “It has always been a dream of mine since I was a very, very young kid because I read all about it,” he shares.

How his adventures have impacted Dr. Zea’s patient relationships

Dr. Zea says that many of his patients are eager to hear about his training and adventures. He enjoys sharing his passion with patients and uses it to encourage physical activity, which is so important for the heart and vascular system. 

He tells his patients, “you don’t have to run a marathon or climb a mountain, all you need is 30 minutes of vigorous walking every day, and that’ll really make a difference.” 

Because the patients he sees typically have chronic issues and need to be monitored regularly, Dr. Zea builds very close, long-term bonds with them. Most patients know what he does outside of work, and he enjoys making a friendly and human connection with them over his expeditions. 

Dr. Zea admits that he gains just as much inspiration from his patients when he sees their accomplishments like losing weight, lowering their blood sugar, and taking active control of their health. 

“If they can get a handle on their own health, they can avoid any kind of surgeries that I may have to offer in the future, and that’s great!”

Similarities between running and being in the OR

Dr. Zea has discovered a strong connection between his running and its positive impact on his work in the operating room. 

“Some of the surgeries that we do as vascular surgeons are incredibly complex, and it requires you to be very calm and very patient and very comfortable with your own thoughts.”

“You’re constantly thinking about your next steps ahead, and how to anticipate the next move, so I think endurance sports and vascular surgery for me just go hand-in-hand.”

He says that you need to develop a strong mental fortitude to be able to do anything for a very long period of time, whether it’s running a marathon, spending days climbing a mountain, or performing a surgery that takes multiple hours to complete. 

“The patience that I have learned from being in the OR has helped me to develop the patience needed in my long distance adventures, so it’s a very nice and symbiotic relationship of the two activities.”

Dr. Zea’s achievements, both on his adventures and in the operating room, wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of his wife, Kate, and three daughters. “My family is my greatest motivation,” says Dr. Zea. “They inspire me every step of the way.”

CTVS is grateful to have Dr. Zea’s experience and expertise in caring for our vascular patients, and we are more than happy to cheer him on his expeditions as he ventures to run further and climb higher. 

For questions about our vascular, cardiac, or thoracic services, please visit ctvstexas.com or call us at (512) 459-8753 to schedule an appointment.

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